Automatic gas gauge



Sept. 28 1926. 1,601,532 c. H. KAUFMAN AUTOMATI C GAS GAUGE Filed May 25. 1925 Patented Sept. 28, 1926.

UNITED STATES CHARLES H. KAUFMAN, 0F WACO, TEXAS.

AUTOMATIC GAS GAUGE.

Application ma may 25, 1925. serial no. 32,779.

This invention relates to a gauge for gasoline storage tanks.

Considerable diliiculty is experienced in attempting to measure the quantity of gasoline which remains in large tanks located below the surface of the ground. It is usual to employ a long measuring stick for insertion into the opening of the tank thereby requiring considerable time and with a consequent loss of gas from the tank by evaporation and at the same time foreign matter escapes into the tank from the sides of the conduit in which the stick is inserted.

An object of the present invention is to provide a device which is connected to an opening in the tank and which projects above the ground at all times for indicating the exact quantity of the liquid remaining in the tank, thereby eliminating the use of measuring sticks, loss of gas and also preventing the accumulation of foreign matter in the tank.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a auge for underground storage tanks whic may be readily removed when desired and which consists of a number of parts so that the gauge may be readily disassembled and cleaned or repaired when necessary.

This invention will be best understood from a consideration of the following detailed description, in view of thel accompanying drawings forming a part of the specification; nevertheless it is to be understood that the invention is lnot confined to the disclosure, being susceptible of such changes and modifications which shall define no material departure from the salient fea.- tures of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a view in elevation of a gauge constructed according to the principles of my invention.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal vertical section of the gauge.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary vertical section of a portion of the gauge.

Figure 4 is a view in perspective of the float and indicating rod.

Figure 5 is a view in perspective of the combined support and guide for the gauge and float.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, a supporting stand 10 is provided whlch may be of any cross sectionalarea but is ing cut out portions to provide slots 11to permit the liquid in the storage tank in which the support l0 is disposed to circulate freely through the support in order to pernnt a cork float 12 to fioat upon the liquid 1n the tank. Strips of metal 13 formed integrally with the support adjacent the bottom of the same provide means for maintaining the legs 14 in spaced relation. A bar or wire 15 is connected between a air 13a of the reinforcing straps adapte to provide a rest for the float 12 when the liquid in the tank falls below a predetermined level and substantially below the wire 15. y

The upper cylindrical portion 16 ofthe support 10 is received within a sleeve 17 which is threaded at 18 so that the sleeve may be screwed into a threaded opening in the top of the storage tank. The upper end of the sleeve is threaded at 19 to receive the threads on the inner surface of a domeshaped connecting member 20.

A short connection or pipe 21 threaded at its op osite ends is screwed into the upper threaded reduced end 22 of the dome-shaped member 20. The other end of the pipe 21 is threaded into the lower end of the sleeve 23 which is provided with an annular flange forming a support 24 formed internally of the sleeve and adapted to support. the lower end of a glass tube 25. A pipe connection 26 is threaded into the upper end of the sleeve 23 and engages the threads of a nut or union 27.

preferably made cylindrical and hav-` The union 27 is rovided with-an internal i passa-ge 28 throug which passes the glass tube 25, and a packing 29 seated within the enlarged recess 30 of the union embraces the glass tube 25 to prevent the loss of gas fro'm the VVstorage tank. The union is threaded to engage"theqinternally threaded portion of the lower endof a housing 32. This housing is cut away intermediate its ends as shown at 33 in order to provide a with a red band indicated at 3 sight opening for viewing connected at its lower This rod is formed of some so that the size ot' the cork iioat need The upper end of the side of the slot 33 a a ded, while at the opposite side a rod 34 which is end to the tioat 12. light material not be properly supporting scale 35 in gallons is indicated.

rod 34, is provided 7 and which cooperates with the scale 36 to indicate the number of gallons ini The extreme upper end the tank.

of the housing 32 is threaded upon which is screwed a. cap 38.

Within the upper end of the cap 38 is provided a gasket 39 formed ot felt or rubber which is adapted to e treme end the same to the atmosphere in which has evaporate the storage tank and vent the ,loss ot gas from the gasoline in which has found its way ous connections and into 25 25.

It will be seen by this construction that be adapted for any sized tank the gauge may ngag'e the upper ex- 40 .of the glass tube 35 for closing order to prethrough the varithe protective tube and 'or any depth of the tank below the surface of the ground since the various connections 21, 23 and 26 may be varied to suit the needs ot the particular container and its position in the ground. The length of the support 10 depends entirely upon the diameter or height of the storage 14 of the support rest upon the botthe legs tom of the tank while portion 16 is received which is screwed into an opening in t diameter of the support 10, of

tank. The course, depends upon tank since the upper cylindrical within the sleeve 17. e

the diameter of the ioat 12 and the size of such float is controlled b the length weight o the rod 34.

Where standard storage ployed it is only necessary the red band 37 on the correct position of rod 34 with respect to and necessarily the tanks are emto determine the the scale 33 in order to provide the correct indications of the scales in terms of gallons. Where tanks of different heights are employed it is necessary to determine in advance in each case the scale in terms of gallons and inches on the housing 32.

The length of the rod 34 is only f determined by the depth at which the storage tank has been disposed.

What I claim is:

1. A gauge comprising a support provided with openings, a

iioat slidably mounted in the support, a rest on the support to maintain the iloat above support,

the bottom. o the an indicating rod connected withthe iioat, a sleeve adapted to receive the upper end of the support and provided threads for connection tank, a housing space with to an openingI in a d from the sleeve, a

`connectingr means and extending hollow means for connecting the housing with said sleeve and for placing the housing in communication with said slee-ve, the indicating rod being received within the hollow longitudinally of the housing, said housing being provided witli a longitudinal slot, the housing upon opposite sides ol the slot being proiel vided with graduations, a protective transparent tube member located within the housing and adapted to receive the indicating rod, and means at transparent member to prevent leakage or fluid past the same. l 2. A gauge comprising a with openings, a float slidably mounted in the support, a rest on the support to maintain the float above the bottom of the support, an indicating rod connected with the i'loat, a sleeve adapted to receive the upper end of the support and provided with threads for connection to an opening in a tank, a housing' spaced from the sleeve, a hollow means for connecting the housing with said sleeve and for placing lthe housing in communication with said sleeve, the indicating rod being received within the hollow connecting means and extending longitudinally of the lio-using, said housing being provided with a longitudinal slot, the housing upon opposite sides of the slot being providec with graduations, a protective transparent tube member located within the housing and adapted to receive the indicating rod, said transparent tube member extending into the hollowr connection between the. sleeve and housing, and seid hollow means being provided with a support for the lower end ot' the transparent tube, and means at the opposite ends of the transparent tube member to prevent leakage of iluid past the same.

3. A gauge for a storage tank comprising a hollow support having longitudinal openings, a rest within the hollow su port and spaced from the bottom thereof, a oat with-- in the hollow support, a sleeve having threads adapted to be screwed into the Stor# age tank adapted to receive the upper end of the support, a dome-shaped member having its lower ond threaded onto the upper end of the sleeve, a pipe threaded into the upper end of the dome-shaped member, a sleeve threaded onto the other end of the pipe, a second pipe connection threaded into the other end of the second mentioned sleeve, said sleeve being provided with an inwardly projecting ilange intermediate its ends, a union threaded onto the ree end of the second mentioned pipe connection and provided with an enlarged pocket, a packing located in said pocket, a transparent tubular member inserted through the union,

the second mentioned pipe connection hav.

ing its lower end resting upon the flange the opposite ends of the support provided infr in the union-embracing the transparent tubular member, a. housing threaded onto the union and enclosing the transparent tube and provided with a slot through which the transparent tube appears, a cap threaded. onto the upper end of the housing and provided with a gasket adapted to engage the upper end of the transparent tube, a rod.

connected to the float andextendng through the support, the first and second mentioned i@ sleeves, the dome-shaped member and pipe connections and having its upper end movable through the transparent tubular mem- CHARLES H. KAUFMAN, 

